Mississippi State University will host its first Academic and
Career Exploration Fair from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. March 4 in the
Colvard Student Union Ballroom.
“This event is targeted toward freshmen, sophomores and students
with undeclared majors,” director of the Center Luther Epting said.
“However, it is not limited to those students; anyone can
participate.”
At the fair, 20 or more MSU colleges and departments will be
represented. The objective is to assist students in decision making
regarding academic majors, Epting said.
“This is a very efficient way for students to get questions
answered,” Epting said. “Instead of students making an appointment
with advisers and visiting different colleges as they would
normally, here everyone will be together in one place.”
Students will be able to go from one table to another and talk
with people in areas of their interest. Maps will be available for
students at the door.
Some of the areas represented are the School of Accounting,
Career Center, the College of Engineering, the College of Forest
Resources, the University Honors Program, the Air Force ROTC, the
Office of Graduate Studies and National Student Exchange.
NSE representative Nancy Fultz said, “From the NSE standpoint, I
hope to promote the program and make students more aware of what
this program entails.”
Fultz said the NSE program in particular would allow students to
look at future employment, live in a different environment, grow
personally and access different courses.
Academic advisors will also participate and help answer
questions but will not have students’ files on hand.
MSU is strictly enforcing and strongly encouraging students to
choose their major early in their college career. After 60 hours
students are required to declare a major in order to register for
the next semester. Epting said he has heard that around 60 percent
of enrolled freshmen change their majors before graduation.
“We’re trying to help this 60 percent by having this kind of
event,” Epting said.
He also said the fair was intentionally planned for the first
week of March because so many students tend to make decisions over
Spring Break. Preregistration is shortly after Spring Break and
students often discuss their plans with parents.
“We want to catch them right before Spring Break so they have
all the information they need before making any academic
decisions,” Epting said.
The idea of the Academic and Career Exploration Fair came from
the colleges and departments across campus.
“I think they get a lot of phone calls and students wanting to
know more about the programs offered and this is a way to help both
the students and the college faculty and staff,” Epting said.
Among the departments represented, MSU Libraries will have a
table of information on MSU library programs as well as programs to
become a librarian.
MSU Libraries representative Gayle Peyton said most people think
libraries are only about books, but with today’s technology
libraries are much more than books.
Epting said he hopes there at least 500 students who will
benefit from the fair. He thinks it will be of use to many of
State’s students.
The ultimate purpose of the fair is to allow students to better
plan, offer immediate accesss to advisers, get questions answered
and inquire about MSU’s graduate school,” Epting said.
The event is casual dress and very informal. It is sponsored by
MSU Division of Academic Affairs and coordinated by the MSU Career
Center.
“We will decide whether to hold a similar event in the future
based on its success or lack thereof,” Epting said.